Centrifugal ore separator



(No Model.) 3 sheets-sheet 1.

y 0. B. PECK.

GBNTRIPUGAL ORE SBPARATOR. No. 499,346. `Paten, dJ11I`1e-13, 1893.

Imm" In .l I

(No Model.)y asheets-Sheet 2. '0. B. PECK.

GENTRIFUGAL ORE SEPARATOR.

1\I0.1.99,34.6l PatentedJune 1s, 189s.

(No Model.) f 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. 0. B. PEGK.

CENTRIFUGAL ORB SEPARATOR.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ORRIN B. PECK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO MELINDA PECK, OF

SAME PLACE.

CENTRIFUGAL ORKEv-SEPARATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 499,346, dated June 13,1893.

Application filed December 27,1892. Serial No.456,423. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ORRIN B. PECK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Centrifugal Ore-Separators, of which the following is aspecification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a central, longitudinal, broken, sectionalelevation of my improved machine; Fig. 2 a plan sectional view of therotatable parts of my machine, partly shown in dotted lines and withparts removed; Fig. 3 an end elevation of the mechanism forlongitudinally moving the deiector taken in the line 3 of Fig. l,looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 4 a front elevation of avertical section of a circulating wheel, taken in the line 4 of Fig. l.Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken in the same way of a modification ofthe circulating wheel. Fig.6 is an end elevation enlarged, showing theend of the treatment vessel, partly in section, with both feed and Watersupply pipes. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the shipping mechanism,enlarged. Fig. 8 is a front' elevation of a modified form of circulatingwheel; and Fig. 9 is a section showing one form of discharge pipe indetail.

In making my improved centrifugal ore separator,I make a bed or frame,A, provided with brackets or standards, A', on which the operative partsare intended to be mounted. I make a treatment vessel or cylinder, B,preferably bell-shaped or enlarged from one end to the other, andprovide it with a separatingl surface, A2, on the inside, preferably ofsuch form as to be adapted to receive and retain material thereon themore securely thegreater the amount of centrifugal force developed. Thisvessel, however, is preferably arranged in a horizontal position, and issupported by the brackets A', in suitable journals or bearings a. It ispreferably provided with a belt surface, B', so that it may be rotatedby means of a belt, B2, operated by any convenient motive power,although, if preferred, other means may be used for rotating it. Thevessel or cylinder, B, is provided with shafts or trunnions, b, whichrest in the bearings, a. These shafts or trunnions are hollow, as shownin the drawings, for the purposes hereinafter described. The vessel may.

tor, C, which may also be used to perform the office of a stirrer ordistrbuter, to stir or distribute the material being treated uniformlyover the separating surface, and tol .loosen and assist in the removalof the heavier particles at the proper stages of the treatment oroperation hereinafter described. The outside surface of this deflectorpreferably corresponds in form to that of the inside of the treatmentvessel, B, leaving an annular space or channel Avbetween the deflectorand the treatment vessel, thus forming a channel or passage in which theseparation is effected, and with the separating surface forming one sidethereof. This deflector serves to deiiect and guide the material alongnear or in prox-h imity to the separating surface, and also as the meansthrough which the size or depth of the channel or passage, in which theseparation is effected, may be changed, increased or decreased. I wishto say here, however, that while I have shown the deector as a vessel,yet, as its main object is to form the inside wall of the passage orchannel in, or through which the material to be treated is passed, andto afford means through which the size or depth of the channel orpassage may be changed, it iswnot essential that itl bein the form of avessel, and any other arrangement may be adopted that is preferred, solong as it serves to form the inner walls of the ways or channels inwhich the material is treated, or serves to perform the functions forwhich it is designed. Nor need the channel in which,

the material is treated be annular or extend entirely around theinterior of the treatment vessel, as separate channels maybe usedinstead of one continuous annular channel, if

preferred. I shall for convenience, however,

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provided with hollow trunnions, c, which extend out through the hollowtrunnions of the treatment vessel, and are supported in bearings, c.

In order to rotate the detlector, I have mounted a pulley C on the endof one of the trunnions, c, so that it may be rotated by a belt operatedby any convenient motive power, although othei` means maybe use d, ifdesired, for rotating the defiector. I arrange a shaft D, in suitablebearings, d, and extend it through the hollow t-runnions, c, of thedeiiector, so that it may be rotated by a pulley, D', or otherconvenient means.

I mount on the shaft D means for forcing or causing a circulation ofwater, which may incidentally contain some of the material, throughpreferably a transverse partition B3. These means are preferably formedof a circulatingwheel,D2,which is preferably hollow and mounted on theshaft D, as shown in Figs. l and 2, and it is provided with openings orports in its peripheries atthe dippers d', so that as the wheel isrotated with sufficient rapidity by the rotation of the shaft D, thewater will be scooped or dipped up and forced into the interior of thecirculating wheel, and toward the axis of revolution and delivered,through openings or channels in the transverse partition B3, to the sideof such partition ropposite to that at which the circulating wheel isarranged, or toward the receiving end of the vessel. vided, at or nearits discharge end, with small holes or orifices b2, through which waterand the material treated may be discharged, as hereinafter described. Bymeans of the partition not permitting the water to run back toward thedischargeV end of the vessel, eX- cepting through, or by way of thechannel or passage A3 over the separating surface,l

and being acted upon by centrifugal force, the water is forced or driventoward the receiving end of the vessel, through the ports cl2 andthrough the channel or passage A3 between the separating surface and thedefiector, carrying or forcing with it newly introduced material alongover the separating surface, whence the lighter and more worthless ofsuch material, and a portion of the water, is discharged through theorifices b2, while a portion of the water passes through theports d3,where it is again caught up by the wheel D2, and again circulatedthrough the channel or passage over the separating surface before beingdischarged from the separator. It will be understood that while thelighter and more worthless particles or portion of the material beingtreated is Washed, forced or carried through the channel or passa-geover the separating surface to be discharged, the heavier and more valuable portion accumulates on the separating surface in the channel orpassage,

to be removed as hereinafter described.

A trough or curbing, E, is preferably arranged around the dischargeholes or orifices of the treatment vessel to catch the water The vesselB is pro-y and material discharged, so that they can be carried oftthrough one or more discharge pipes e.

The material to be treated is introduced through a pipe F, which entersthe hollow trunnions b of the treatment vessel, and discharges thematerial in a finely powdered condition, and preferably mixed or dilutedwith water at the receiving end of the treatment vessel. The materialand water immediately pass, through the action of centrifu gal force, tothe wall of the treatment vessel, and proceed along the separatingsurface toward the discharge holes or orifices. Before the operation hascommenced, a sufficient quantity of water should be introduced into thetreatment vessel to partially fill the same. As the operation begins andnew water is introduced with the material to be treated, the wateralready in the vessel assumes a position to the outside, leaving ahollow space along the center, as shown in Fig. 1, and the circulatingwheel, or means for forcing a current 0f water, moves the desiredportion of the water toward the receiving end of the vessel to theopposite side of the transverse partition, and thereby forces it tocommingle with the material being introduced, and pass along theseparating surface toward the discharge end. The water introduced withthe material is intended to be sufficient to maintain about the samequantity of water in the vessel, or, in other words, to compensate forthe water constantly discharged through the orifices b2. The current ofwater flowing over the separatin g surface is intended to be maintainedat sufficient strength and rate'of speed to wash off and carry away thelighter particles of the material,without being sufficiently rapid andstrong to carry off the heavier particles, which areallowed toaccumulate on the separating surface Aof the treatment vessel, andwithin the channel or passage where the separation is effected.

The deflector, C, and the shaft D, although rotatable independently ofeach other, are preferably arranged so as to move longitudinally inunison. To effect this movement, and to secure it automatically back andforth, I arrange one end ofthe shaft D, and one end of the hollowtruunions, c, in a sliding or traveling box or journal F', by providingflanges or rings, f, on them, fitting in annular channels or grooves inthe sliding or travelingjournal or box. rIhis permits the shaft andtrunnion to rotate in the box or journal, but causes them to move ortravel longitudinally with it, whenever it is moved. Topermit this, thejournals sustaining the other end of the shaft, and the oppositetrunnion of the deflector, are arranged so that the shaft and trunnionmay move or slide longitudinally in them.

Toautomatically move the traveling journal or box, and with it the shaftand deflector, back and forth, Iarrange a screw wheel, G, operated by ascrew shaft, g, sustained re- IDO IIO

spectively in proper journals or bearings, and with their screws inengagement with each other. I mount on the extended end of the screwshaft loose and tight pulleys, H H', and connect them with belts to acounter-shaft, or other convenient motive power, so that the belts willimpart rotation to the pulleys in opposite directions. On the extendedend of the screw wheel shaft, I mount a pinion G whose teeth engage ormesh with the teeth of a segment g. This segmentis mounted on a shaftcarrying a pinion G2, Whose teeth intermesh with the teeth of a rack g2,arranged on the under side of the traveling journal or box. Pivoted onthe shaft carrying the pinion G', I arrange an arm h, whose upper end ispivotally connected in a slotted hole with the lower end of a weightedlever h pivoted on the end of the shaft carrying the pinion G2. Theupper end of this weighted lever is pivotally connected preferably in aslot, or elongated hole which is more clearly shown in Fig. 7, and isindicated by the letter h3. The slot or elongated hole enables theweighted lever to acquire an accelerated momentum when it falls the oneway or the other, after passing over thecenter of 4its pivotal support,and before contacting to move theshifter rod. Itis thereby enabled tomove the rod and shift the belts thedesired distance, with more of ajerk, or with greater suddenness, which prevents the slippage of thebelts during their movement from the tight to the loose pulleys, or viceversa, with a belt shifter, H2, suitably lsupported ina bracket h2, sothat as the weighted lever is moved back or forth and passes over thegravity center of its pivoted support, it falls in the one direction orthe other, moving thek belt shifter in the one direction or the other,to shift the belts from their loose to their tight pulleys alternately,causing the screw shaft g to be rotated in the one direction or theother. This likewise rotates the screw wheel and the pinion g in the onedirection or the other, and revolves the segment g back and forth,causing the pinion g2 to revolve in the one direction or the other, tomove the traveling box or journal in or out, and with it the shaft Dwith the circulating wheel or means attached to it, and the deflector C.The segment is provided with stops or studs h3, to limit the extent towhich it can be revolved in the one direction or the other before movingthe weighted lever h over its gravit-y center of pivotal support, thusreversing the direction of its own travel, as above explained. In this'Way, after the deflector has been moved toward the receiving end of thetreatment vessel, gradually diminishing the size or depth of the channelor passages in which the separation is effected, to the pre-determinedextent, the movement is automatically reversed through contact of theouter pin or stop Vh5 with the arm or lever h, so that the deflector isgradually moved back away from the receiving end and toward the deliveryend of the treatment vessel, thus effecting a gradual and automaticmovement of the detiector, so as toincrease or decrease the size anddepth of the separating passage orchannel. At this time in theoperationof the separator, the material to be separated or treatedisintended to commence to be flowed or introduced into the machine, andflowed or forced through the channel or passage between the separatingsurface of the vessel and the deiiector, the heavier and more valuableportion of the material lodging on the separating surface in the channelor passage. The introduction of material is continued till the defiectoris moved back, enlarging the channel or passage to the pre-determinedextent. At this time, or somewhat before the movement of the detlectoris again reversed, the feed or flow of material to the separator isintended to be discontinued, and a flow of clean water is now preferablycommenced, through the water pipe F2 shown in Fig. 6. The pipe e is nowtransferred vto a receptacle for receiving the more valuable portionwhichl has accumulated on'the separating surface, while the deflectorwas moving out and the channel or, passage enlarged or deepened, or, ifpreferred, the discharge pipe may be made with branches as shown in Fig.9, and providedwith a swinging or hinge door e', which may be turned toclose one branch or the other as desired. The accumulated heavierparticles begin to be loosened and iiowed or washed out and dischargedfrom the separator, as the movement of the deiiector is reversed to anin travel, thereby gradually decreasing the size or depth of the channelor passage to the pre-determined extent, at which time all of theheavier particles are intended to be removed and the operation may berepeated.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a modification ofl the circulating wheel. In thismodification the wheel is preferably formed with a hollow centralportion, and with the radial wings or partitions, I, or with channels orpassages, openingatornearits peripheryorouter diameter, andcommunicating with one or more discharge passages at a point nearer itscenter, or axis of rotation, which discharge passage is preferablysimilar to that shown in Figs. l and 2. The wheel, when constructed inthis way, is intended to be rotated at a slower rate of speed than thedeflector or the water within the separator around' near the peripheryof the Wheel; and, of course, the water contained lwithin the wheel, orchannels therein, will Ibe rotated or carried around at the same rate ofspeed as the wheel, which, as just explained,

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will be slower than the rotation of the water contained in the separatoraround near lthe the pressure of water in the separator is oc casionedby its rotation, and the greater the speed of its rotation, the greaterthe force and pressure developed, it follows that the water within theWheel will be subjected to a less force and pressure than that portionof the water contained in the separator outside of the Wheel around nearits periphery, which water is being revolved more rapidly, hence suchWater outside of the wheel Will rush or course, it will be understoodthat as fast as the water from the separator iiows into the wheel, ashereinabove explained, its velocity of rotation will be decreased orlessened, and it, in turn, will be forced toward the center by thepressure of the Water outside of the wheel that is being revolved morerapidly.

The wheel may be made in other form, if desired, as, for instance, itmay be made with radial arms or spokes with channels or passages withinthem, opening to receive and discharge the Water at appropriate points,as shown in Fig. 8. If desired,the form of wheel shown in Fig. l mayalso be rotated at aslower, instead of a faster, rate of speed than thevessel or deflector, and the results obtained will be the same as in themodification, only it will not be effected so rapidly without the wings,flanges or partitions, to quickly lessen the velocity of rotation of theWater as it flows into the wheel. If desired, when the wings orpartitions in the wheel are formed spirally and extended out at theirends, to form the dippers d', as shown in Fig. 5, the Wheel may berotated faster, but I prefer to rotate it slower than other parts of theseparator.

While I have described the construction, arrangementand operation of myimproved machine with considerable min uteness and detail, I wish itunderstood that I do not desire or intend to limit myself strictly todetails of construction, further than the same may be specified in theclaims.

Vhat I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a centrifugal ore separator, the combination of a rotatableseparating surface forming one side of a covered channel or passage inwhich the separation is effected, and means for automatically changingthe size or depth of such channel or passage during the operation of themachine, substantially as described.

2. In a centrifugal ore separator, the combination of a rotatableseparating surface forming one side of a covered channel or passage, andmeans for gradually and automatically changing the size or depth of suchchannel or passage during the operation of the machine, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a centrifugal ore separator, the combination of a rotatableseparating surface forming one side of a covered channel or passage, andmeans for alternately and automatically increasing and decreasing thesize or depth of such channel or passage during the operation of themachine, substantially as described.

4t. In a centrifugal ore separator, the combination of a rotatableseparating surface forming one side of a covered channel or passage, andmeans for alternately, gradually and automatically increasing anddecreasing the size or depth of such channel or passage during theoperation of the machine, substantially as described.

5. In a centrifugal ore separator, the combination of a rotatable vesselprovided with a separating surface, a detlector for deiectin g andguiding the material along near such separating surface, and means forgradually and automatically changing the size or depth of such channelor passage during the operation Of the machine, substantially asdescribed.

6. In a centrifugal ore separator, the combination of two rotatabletapering cylinders, one within the other, one of which is movableendwise with respect to the other, and antomatic means for effecting theendwise movement of such cylinder, substantially as described.

7. In a centrifugal ore separator, the combination of two rotatabletapering cylinders of a greater diameter at one portion than another,one of which cylinders Vis movable endwise with respect to the other,and means for graduallyand-automatically effecting the end- Wisemovement of such cylinder, substantially as described.

8. In a centrifugal ore separator, the combination of two rotatablecylinders, one Within the other, of a greater diameter through oneportion than anotheigone of which cylinders is movable endwise'withrespect to the other, and means for alternately and automaticallyeifecting such endwise movement in opposite directions, substantially asdescribed.

9. In a centrifugal ore separator, the combination of two rotatablecylinders, one within the other, of a larger diameter through oneportion than another, one of which cylinders is movable endwise withrespect to the other, and means for alternately, gradually andautomatically effecting the endwise movement of such cylinder inopposite directions, substantially as described.

10. In a centrifugal ore separator, the combination of a rotatableseparating surface forming one side of a covered channel or passage,means for changing the size or depth of such channel or passage, atraveling journal bearing engaging such means for changing the size ordepth of the channel or passage, and means for effecting the travel ofsuch journal bearing, substantially as described.

11. In a centrifugal ore separator, the combination of a rotatableseparating surface forming one side of a covered channel or passage inwhich the separation is effected, means for changing the size or depthof such chan- IIO nel or passage, a traveling ,journal bearing engagingsuch means for changing the size or depth of the channel or passage, andautomatie mechanism for effecting the travel of such journal bearing,substantially as described.

12. In a centrifugal ore separator, the combination of two rotatablecylinders, one within the other; one of which cylinders is movableendwise with respect to the other,a traveling journal bearing, rotatablyengaging an extended end of ashaft or trunnion of the movable cylinderfor effecting its endwise movement, and automatic means for effectingthe travel of the journal bearin g, substantially as described.

13. In a centrifugal ore separator, the combination of two rotatablecylinders, one within the other, one of which cylinders is movableendwise with respect to the other,a traveling journal bearing engagingrotatable means for shifting the movable cylinder, and automatic meansfor effecting the travel of the journal bearing, substantially asdescribed.

14. In a centrifugal ore separator, the combination of a rotatablevessel provided with a separating surface, a deflector for deflectingand guiding the material along, near or in proximity to such surface,means for hold-V ing water at a position closer to the axis ofrevolution of such vessel at its receiving than at its discharge end,and a wheel provided with one or more covered channels or passages formoving water from thedischarging to the receiving end of the vessel,whereby water is repeatedly circulated over the separating surfacebefore escaping from the vessel, substantially as described. l

15. In a centrifugalore separator, the combination of a rotatable vesselprovided with a separating surface, a delector for deflecting andguiding the material along such surface, a partition located within suchvessel having a passage through it, and a Wheel provided with one ormore covered channels or passages for conveying water from the dischargeend of the vessel to the opposite side of such partition, whereby wateris repeatedly circulated over the separating surface before escapingfrom the vessel, substantially as described. g

16. In a centrifugal ore separator, the combination of a rotatablevessel provided with a separating surface, a deiector for dellecting andguiding the material along, near or in proximity to the separatingsurface, a partition located Within the deector having a passage orchannel through it for the delivery of water, and a wheel for movingWater from the discharge end of the vessel to a point on the oppositeside of such partition, whereby Water may be repeatedly circulated overthe separating surface before escaping fromr the vessel, substantiallyas described.

17. In a centrifugal ore separator, the combination of a rotatablevessel provided with a separating surface, a deliector for deflectingand guiding the material along, near or in proximity tothe separatingsurface, a partition located within the vessel, a wheel provided withone or more covered channels or wise with respect to the other, apartition within the inner cylinder,'and means for moving water from oneside of the partition to the other, substantially as described.

19. In a centrifugal ore separator, the combination of two rotatablecylinders of greater diameter at one point than another, the insidecylinder being movable endwise with respect to the other, a partitionwithin the inside cylinder, means for moving water from one side of thepartition to the other, and means for effecting the endwise movement ofthe inner cylinder, substantially as described.

20. In a centrifugal ore separator, a rotatable vessel provided with aseparating surface, in combination with means for decreasing thevelocity of rotation of water within the separator, `whereby it is thenVconveyed nearer the axis of rotation by the pressure of water Withinthe separator having a greater velocity of rotation, substantially asdescribed.

ORRIN B. PECK.

Witnesses:

THOMAS A. BANNING, SAMUEL E. HIBBEN.

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